Marriage and Religious Weddings Debate

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Department: Scotland Office

Marriage and Religious Weddings

Lord Mackay of Clashfern Excerpts
Tuesday 30th June 2020

(3 years, 9 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Keen of Elie Portrait Lord Keen of Elie
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My Lords, I am not in a position to give such an undertaking. The issues raised are considered in the Integrated Communities Action Plan.

Lord Mackay of Clashfern Portrait Lord Mackay of Clashfern (Con) [V]
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My Lords, to what extent does the right to practise one’s religion, subject to a proviso, affect the right to maintenance and property during marriage and on divorce or separation?

Lord Keen of Elie Portrait Lord Keen of Elie
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My Lords, if a religious ceremony of marriage or purported marriage does not conform to the requirement of Lord Hardwicke’s Act of 1753 or the marriage Act of 1836, then there will be no marriage. In these circumstances, a couple would be regarded as cohabiting and that would clearly have an impact upon any circumstances in which they ceased to cohabit.